A westbound BNSF freight train enters South Dakota as it climbs away from the Minnesota River valley on a nice autumn evening. In the distance is Ortonville, MN. Keen eyes will notice the extra distance between the train and the crossing flashers on the right, a subtle reminder of the double track that once existed here along Milwaukee Road's Pacific Extension.
Coal and steel don't go bad. This album features long, slow, heavy freight trains; drag freights, slop freights, dead freights, etc. Trains with lots of power, and lots of different cargo slogging along behind.